Party Dressing: Navigating The Dress Codes
Looking to start the year on the right foot style-wise, but struggling to navigate what dress code you’ve been given for any upcoming festivities? You’re in the right place.
We get it — lean too formal, and you might look like you’re trying too hard; turn up in something lackluster, and you’ll feel like you’re sticking out like a sore thumb while everyone around you has their glad rags on. And god forbid you end up being the only one in an all-singing, snowman-clad jumper that will go up in flames should you stand too close to a candle.
Treading the fine line between staying true to your sense of style and bringing the appropriate seasonal sartorial flair is tricky, but that’s where we can help.
Rely on the Classics
Not much comes close to tailoring when it comes to partying, celebrations, or dinners. You get in-built style credibility due to the provenance that men’s suiting has, and if you find a style or brand that cuts a jacket befitting your frame, then the confidence that can come with wearing tailoring really can’t be undervalued.
And if a fully suited approach isn’t your speed, don’t undervalue how much a structured blazer in a more interesting silhouette or material can do to elevate your everyday aesthetic to party-appropriate heights.
Knitwear Not Itchwear
It may be inevitable that an occasion comes your way in which you need to be donning a festive-feeling jumper. Instead of going for something with a three-dimensional snowman emerging from your torso — or something that comes with any kind of ‘on switch’ — ditch the novelty in favor of something a bit more long-lasting. Still festive, but more Fair Isle than fire hazard.
The 'No Dress Code' Dress Code
Often, one of the more difficult requirements to meet is the complete lack of any requirement. You want to make sure you’re looking put together, but full-blown formality is likely a step too far — and this is where you can fall back on one or two more interesting items that make the effort. Think a shirt in a low-key pattern, a knit with some textural interest, or a layering piece that gives a nod to suiting without the structure.
Black Tie
Likely one of the stricter dress codes you’ll come across this time of year, black tie is often revered for its sleeker leaning style and distinct air of elegance. There are a couple of fairly strict ‘rules’ to follow — a dark jacket (black or navy), a solid-colored white or black shirt, and black formal shoes are all hallmark musts of black tie dressing.
While at first, these rules can seem daunting, try to think of them more as a cheat sheet that removes the headache of getting the dress code right and an opportunity to indulge in some of the more discerning styles menswear has to offer.
Smart Casual
A dreadingly vague dress code that can mean different things to different people, navigating smart-casual can be a minefield. A foolproof approach? Think of your outfit as a push and pull between the two ends of the formality spectrum.
If you opt for a more casual shoe, wear it with a smarter-feeling wool trouser. If you want the structure of a blazer, wear it with a knitted polo or simple t-shirt to bring it to a more casual feeling.